Waiting for Amber Skyy

Chapter 23

"The Phibians?" I snorted, chewing on some roasted rodent we managed to catch. It wasn't much for dinner, but it was something. Strangely it tasted pretty good, but when you're living in the wild, anything will taste good.

"Hey I was only five! I couldn't even pronounce Amphibians then!" she pointed out, ripping off a piece with her teeth.

"Right," I teased, putting my head back and looking up at the tree leaves, seeing patches of stars. "And of course it caught on."

Speck blushed and just took another bite of her dinner. She and some other kids were all amphibian mutants, which was part of those psycho freaks' plan. They wanted to see if they could make another group of obedient dogs, Erasers as Speck calls the werewolves, but with different mutations. Speck said she was part frog and a bit of fish, meaning she could breathe underwater just like me. I asked her if she ever played leap-frog with the other "grunts" ITex raised, and she just gave me a weird look.

"So..." I laid on my back and stretched my arms behind my head, staring at the few patches of sky I could see. "I was going to be a grunt too?"

"From what I remember," she started, laying down next to me and copying my position. I couldn't help but smile a little bit. "We all had to read all the experiments' files, and yours said something like 'All-Round Grunt.'"

I nodded gently, now realizing why I had these freakish additions. They wanted a flying, super-fast, water breathing mutant that would bend to their needs. Thank god I got out of there in time.

"But of course I'm a defect," I sighed, closing my eyes.

"Yeah..." she almost whispered. That was the only thing wrong with me: asthma attacks. Speck said it was because the different mutations they put together affected my lungs, making it hard for me to adapt in certain situations.

"Great," I sighed.

We didn't say anything for a while until Speck asked, "What was it like?"

"Hm?" I said with my eyes still closed.

"Living a normal life?"

I opened one eye to look at her. She was staring at the branches too, curiosity easily seen in her expression.

I shrugged, "Good... I guess. I mean, I still only remember a few bits of that life." I racked my brain to remember things, but all my mind was saying in response was to not believe it all. "My parents loved me, I loved them, and all I had to worry about was homework. Well... that and martial arts."

"You took martial arts?" she awed.

"Or something. It makes sense why I can fight so well," I shrugged. I could only remember receiving a medal for a tournament, and I was wearing something that screamed martial arts to me. But remembering learning how to fight? Nothing. I internally groaned at myself. Why can't I remember?

Apparently she heard my groan and bumped me with her shoulder, "You'll remember. Don't worry." I looked at her and she smiled wide at me, and I gently smiled back.

"We should get some sleep," I yawned,

"I'll take first watch," she moved to stand up.

"No, I'll do it. You need your rest-"

"No, you need rest. You flew us here," she said with the sternest voice towards me. I instantly sat back down and saluted her.

"Yes sir," I chuckled, making her giggle in return. She then walked off a ways, but close enough to where I could still see her back. I curled up on my side once more and let out a deep sigh, closing my eyes and falling asleep instantly.